Polar Explorers Ellen Mosley-Thompson, PhD, and Lonnie G. Thompson, PhD, of Ohio State to Available to Discuss Upcoming Trip to Israel to Claim Dan David Prize

Thursday May 01st 2008
Filed Under Dan David Prize 



Recognized for work in environmental sciences, with an eye toward climate change

 

Tel Aviv (February 11, 2008) —The Dan David Prize announced the winners of its 2008 prizes today. Three US$1 million awards will be presented at a ceremony on May 19, 2008, at Tel Aviv University, in the presence of the President of the State of Israel, Mr. Shimon Peres.

 

The 2008 Dan David Prize laureates, in the Past, Present and Future Time Dimensions, are:

 

Past - sharing the prize in the field of “Creative Rendering of the Past – Literature, Theater, Film”:

·         Amos Oz (Arad, Israel) for portraying historical events while emphasizing the individual, and for his personal exploration of the tragic conflict between two nations.
·         Tom Stoppard (London, Britain) for being a master playwright whose plays demonstrate farcical cleverness alongside profound humanity and faith in goodness, beauty and love.
·         Atom Egoyan (Canada) for his superb modernist filmmaking that explores Armenian history and culture. 
 

Present - in the field of “Social Responsibility with Particular Emphasis on the Environment”:

·         Al Gore (former Vice President of the United States) for his multiple contributions to creating greater worldwide awareness of the disastrous effects that man’s energy consumption has on the environment.

 

Future - sharing the prize in the field of “Geosciences”:

·         Geoffrey Eglinton (University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom) for his studies of organic chemical fossils, which revealed the inhabitants and climates of ancient worlds and the implications for today and tomorrow.

·         Ellen Mosley-Thompson and Lonnie G. Thompson, (Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA) jointly, for their separate and joint efforts in studying the geological and environmental records in ice cores and how that assists with predicting future geological events.

 

 “The constellation of laureates is particularly meaningful at this time,” said Mr. Dan David, on the announcement of the 2008 winners. “On the one hand, great creators depicting historical events in literature, theater and film; on the other, eminent scientists whose research predicts environmental disaster if we do not act; and in between a man working to promote awareness of this prediction and its remedies so that human history will continue to be told for generations to come”.

 

About the Dan David Prize

 

The Dan David Prize annually awards three prizes of US$1 million each for achievements that have an outstanding scientific, technological, cultural or social impact on our world. Each year fields are chosen within the three Time Dimensions – Past, Present and Future. The Dan David Prize, founded in 2001, is named after international businessman and philanthropist Dan David. It is headquartered at Tel Aviv University, whose President, Prof. Zvi Galil, serves as Chairman of its Board.

 

The Dan David Prize is unique in its approach to the dynamically changing fields of human knowledge and in its process of fostering young scholars. The laureates annually donate 20 scholarships of US$15,000 each to outstanding doctoral and postdoctoral students in the chosen fields throughout the world. Scholarship recipients then join the online Dan David Prize Scholarship Recipients Forum, which serves as a platform for Dan David Prize scholars to discuss research topics, present individual research and exchange ideas and suggestions.

The Dan David Prize seeks to impact on the next generation of leaders and involves high school students through the “Name Your Hero” Essay Competition. Students submit their ideas for candidates and fields for the Dan David Prize. Selected students participate in an advanced  writing workshop at Tel Aviv University. Three first prizes of NIS10,000 (US$2,700) and six second prizes of NIS 5,000 (US$ 1,350) are awarded. The Board of Directors takes the suggestions presented in the winning essays into consideration when selecting the fields for the coming year.

For more information visit the Dan David web site www.dandavidprize.org .

 

Press Contacts

Ms. Amy Kenigsberg
K2 Strategic Innovations
Tel/Fax +972-9-794-1681
US Tel/Fax +1-913 440 4072
amy@k2-si.com

Dan David Prize Office, Tel: +972-3-6406614/5, Fax: +972-3-6406613, ddprize@post.tau.ac.il